Multicolor-printing machine



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Patented June 3, 192:1. j UNITED' STATES PATENT oFFlca. j

FRANK C. MARQUABDI, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK. ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION F NEW YORK.

nnL'rIcoLon-PBJNTING MACHINE.

Application iled February 9, 1922. Serial No. 535,162.

l To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK C. MARQUARDT, a citizen of the United States, residing at the borough of Brooklyn, in the city of New York, county of, Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Multicolor-Printing Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

My invention relates to multicolor prlnting machines, and more particularly to a type thereof embodying a plurality of plate or form cylinders grouped about a cylinder having an oifset planographic surface or surfaces upon which a completed design, different portions of which are carried by the several cameo plates upon said plate cylinders, is collected in different colors preparatory to the making of an imprint of the completed multicolor or chromatic design at a single impression.

Machines of the character to which my invention relates are especially adapted for making safety tints for various negotiable, or commercial, instruments and are not suitable for art work wherein the different color pigments are associated and superimposed one upon another in a manner to secure different color effects. In producing safety tints, however, light impressions are made from line designs, or designs having vignette effects, which serve `as a background for other impressions.

In a machine designed for making such tints, the ink lines in different colors must have absolute register one with the other, notwithstanding that the design is built up from a number of fragmentary portions upon different plates, and in a plurality of different colors. The colors, while being only applicable to the plates along straight lines extended circumferentially of the plate cylinder, are distributed throughout the deslgn by limiting the printing areas of said plates and employing ink founts associated with each plate capable of severally applying a different color thereto within certain definite limitations controlled by the structure of the fount in co-operation with the raised or cameo design upon the plate.

In a printin machine embodying my invention, the ru ber blanketed planographic cylinder andthe associated plate cylinders adapted to receive the cameo printing plates bearlng different portions of the desi are adapted to rotate continuously 'whiglg the machine is in operation and at the same peri heral speed, said planogra hic cylinder eing adapted to carry a p urality of blankets, and said plate cylinders being of a diameter to require two revolutions thereof .to one revolution of said planographic cylinder. The lplate cylinders are positively moved toward t e planographic cylinder, but are acted upon by springs having a normal tendency to move them away from said cylinder, the construction being such that the pressman may cause all operative plate cylinders to moved away from the planographic cylinder under the control of said sprin s, and to cause simultaneous movement of t e impression cylinder away from the planographic printing cylinder.

The mechanism for applying power to move each plate cylinder with relation to the planographic cylinder is so constructed that it may be so set as to cause each plate cylinderfto recede from the planographic cylinder during a portion of each revblution, to permit all plate cylinders to remain in the inking relation to said planographic cylinder at all times; or to cause any or all of said cylinders to be held out of the operative relation to said planographic cylinder.

Hence during the make-ready of a machine it may be so set that any of the plate cylinders may be selectively used in transferring designs onto the planographic cylinder, the

.permanent throwing out or disen agement of one plate cylinder having no e ect upon the control means as to other cylinders.

The various mechanisms for controlling the power for thus actuating the plate cylinders and the impression cylinder operate continuously while the machine is in operation, the a plication of this power to the cylinders eing through an intermediate mechanism normally under no load so as to rmit the setting thereof by hand without di culty. When but a single blanket is used upon the planographic cylinder, the machine may be so set as to cause the plates upon any or all of the plate cylinders to apply the ink design to this blanket. Whentwo blankets are used, the machine may be so set as to cause the plates upon some of the plate cylin ders to transfer a com leted design to one of said blankets, while t e plates upon other blanket, thus permittin of said cylinders will be caused ,to transfer a completed design upon the other two Jobs requiring different desi s in iiferent colors to be done on the mac ine at the same time,-tho machine acting as a non-perfecting machine, Or if desired, by feedin sheets to one of the blankets u on said p anographic cylin der only, the esign from the other blanketmay be transferred to the impression cylinder and thus permit the machine to be used as a perfecting machine without the employment of aseparate inking mechanism in rela tion to the impression cylinder,

I associate with said impression cylinder, however, a plate cylinder and its associated inkin mechanism, which may be used either for te purpose of permittlng greater intricacy in the design impressed upon the paper by said impression cylinder when the machine is in operation as a perfecting machine, due to the capability of utilizing any of the four cylinders associated with the' planographic cylinder in addition to the plate cylinder co-operating with said impression cylinder, for transferring portions of a design to said impression cylinder, or of permitting the transfer of a design to said impression cylinder independently of the planographic cylinder.

In this manner the machine is adapted to an unlimited range of work and the use of any desired combination of colors, and for use either in perfecting or non-perfecting work.

The throw-off mechanism operative upon the impression cylinder is also operative upon its plate cylinder and its associated inking mechanism.

Associated with each plate cylinder is an inking mechanism consisting of two'or more ink founts each adapted to apply an ink of one color to a doctor or ductor roll which applies it in stripes todistributing rolls com,

mon to all of the founts, said distributing rolls ensuring a proper cutting and distribution of the ink, and` when desired, a proper blending of adjacent colors to get chromatic effects in the imprint before it is finally applied by the inking rolls to the cameo plate upon the plate cylinder with which the inking mechanism and the ink founts are associated.

While the distributing rolls are carried by a frame movable in relation to the ink founts and acted upon by springs so as to maintain the inking rolls in the proper inkin relation to the plates upon the plate cylint er, said frame is adapted to have movement with the plate cylinder toward and' from the planographic cylinder so as to permit a continued inking of the plates even though the plate cylinder be out of engaging relation to the blanket of the planographic cylinder. Means, however, are provided whereby in the eventl of oneiof the plate the doctor or ductor rolls may be made inoperative to transfer ink from the fount to` the distributing rolls, thus permitting any plate cylinder torelnain inoperative, Without increasing the strength of the ink film i upon the distributing rolls and without the necessity for cleaning out the ink founts, in the event that it is desired to temporarily discontinueL its use. Thel control of the ductor or doctor rolls associated with the inking mechanism of each plate cylinder may be either manual or automatic.r

In a machine embodying 'my invention, the use of a plurality of ink founts permits exactitude of register of the differently colored inked portions of the design upon each plate, and also exactitude in the register of the portions of the design upon one plate with portions upon other plates, notwithstanding that a plurality of different colors may be used in the founts associated with cach plate c linder.

In some ines of work it is desirable to mix or blend inks of different colors upon the mixing and distributing rolls before inking the plates, means being rovided in connection with the inking mec anism for each plate cylinder whereby the ink upon the distributing and inking rolls may be mixed to secure the desired chromatic effects. This means is not only independently controllable as to each plate cylinder, but may be so adjusted as to be totally inoperative so as to avoid the blending effect above referred to, or to increase the range of the blended portions of the design.

The blending rolls will not have any function in securing register of the inks for dif` ferently colored portions of the design, or in cutting the ink upon t-he distributing rolls, the axial movement of these blending rolls being solely for the purpose ofsecuring av ciated plate cylinder. the inking rolls and some ,of the distributing rolls being capable of independent movement with relation to others of the distributing rolls, intermediate same and the ink founts, and being springpressed toward the plate cylinder to be inked thereby, thus permitting the entire inking mechanism to be moved away from the printing couple when making ready for a run, While permitting the inking rolls to have movement with the plate cylinders independently of any movement of the remainder of the inking mechanism.

The movement of the inkin mechanism associated with the plate cylin ers for ink ing the planographic offset cylinder is rectilineal, while the movement ofthe inking mechanism associated with the plate cylinder for inking t'he impression cylinder for use in perfecting Work, is rotative.

As a further facility during the makeready, the feed shelf is so constructed as to fold upon itself and be elevated so as to be entirely removed from its position adjacent the printing couple and thus permit free access thereto from both above and below the normal plane of this feed shelf.

While automatically acting means are provided for preventing actuation of the ductor or doctor rolls, in the event of the throw-off of any cylinder while the machine is running, this mechanism may, at the will of the operator, be made inoperative so as to permit only a manual actuation of the means for making said ductor or doctor rolls inoperative, a condition growing out of the possibility of using one of the blankets upon the planographic offset cylinder as a transfer surface for applying an inked design to the impression cylinder for perfecting work, and for using different designs upon difl`erent blankets.

The invention consists in a printing machine embodying therein the novel features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention, with the delivery portion thereof omitted;

Fig. 2 is a side view of said delivery end of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic showing of the printing couple, the plate cylinders associated therewith and the inking mechanisms associated with said plate cylinders respectively;

Fig. 4: is a detail view of that portion of the feed shelf mechanism of the machine adjacent the printing couple;

Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation showing the throw-off mechanism and its controlling means, and the inking mechanisms associated with the plate cylinders operative upon the planographic cylinder;

Fig. 6 is a detail View upon an enlarged scale showing a portion of said mechanism operative in relation to one of the plate cylinders operative upon the planographic cylinder and to the impression cylinder and its associated parts;

Figs. 7 and 8 are views upon an enlarged scale, illustrating the relation of parts with the throw-off mechanism as to one plate cylinder, when the machine is set to throw out said cylinder with each half cycle of the planographic cylinder;

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate a fragmentary portion of said mechanism showing the manner in which it is set to permit continuous engaging relation of the plates upon said. plate cylinder with the planographic cylinder until the throw-off mechanism is actuated, and the relation of parts after the actuation of said mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of one of the oscillating setting plates;

Fig. 12 is a detail View of one of the plate cylindersfor inking blankets upon the planographic cylinder, and its associated inking mechanism on one side of the machine' Fig. 13 is a View of the impression cylinder, the plate cylinder associated therewith, and the inking mechanism co-operating with said plate cylinder;

Fig. 14 is a view of another of said mechanisms upon the other side of the machine, showing the actuating mechanism for the blending rolls;

Fig. 15 is a view in detail of a portion of one of the inking mechanisms showing the mechanism operative upon the blending rolls thereof;

Fig. 16 is an end view of Fig. 15 upon a reduced scale;

Fig. 17 is a rear View of one of the up er inking founts and its appurtenant mec anisms;

Fig. 18 is a detail view of one end of the planographic cylinder;

Fig. 19 is a detail View of one of the ductor roll mechanisms; and

Fig. 2O is a perspective view of two associated ink founts.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

1n view of the complicated nature of thek machinev embodying `my. invention, in describing the machine, I will refer only in detail to those mechanisms which are neces sary to a clear understanding of the invention, and omit specific reference to other mechanisms which are largely matters of design and require no special construction resulting in new functions in the machine.

In the machine of my invention, theprinting couple consists of a planographic offset cylinder 20 having a plurality of rubber" blankets 21 and 22, although if desired a continuous rubber 'surface may be used upon 1 this cylinder, two blankes being used merely because of greater facility in securing and maintaining the desired printing surfaces.

Associated with the cylinder 20 is an impression cylinder 23 also provided with a rubber blanketed surface 24 so as to permit the use of this cylinder as a planograplnc offset cylinder for perfecting work when so desired. The blanket 24 extends about only a portion of the periphery of the cylinder 23 to facilitate its heilig brought to and maintained in the desired condition, although as with the cylinder 20 this blanket may be a continuous surface, if so desired. The cylinder 23 is of one-half the diameter of the cylinder 20 so as to make two revolutions to 011e of said cylinder 20. This permits the impression cylinder, when being used for perfecting work, to be inked from one of the blankets upon the cylinder 20. The members of `the printing couple are driven in unison by means of intermeshing gears in a manner common in this art, such gears being shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The printing couple is driven from any desired source of power which is applied to the cylinder 20. all of the mechanisms of the machine being driven from the gears carried by the cylinders 20 and 23, a practice which is common in this art.

Grouped about the planographic cylinder 20 are a plurality of plate cylinders 25` 26. 27 and 28 each adapted to carry a cameo printing plate. The plate cylinders 25 to 28 are so mounted as to be capable of movement toward and from the cylinder 20, the impression cylinder 23 also being capable of a similar movement with relation to said cylinder 20.

The plates upon the cylinders 25 to 28 re spectively bear different portions of a complete design so that a planographic surface passing all of said cylinders will be successively inked until the completed design has been collected thereon preparatory to the making of the impression at the cylinder 23.

As will more fully appear hereinafter, the machine may be so set as to perlnitthe use of any or all of the cylinders 25 to 28 in applying the inked design to either or both of the blankets 21 and 22. or so that some of the plates upon said cylinder will apply the inked design to one of said blankets while others apply it to the other of said blankets as in perfecting work, or in the event that it be desired to cause succeeding impressions to differ from each other.

ihile the cylinders 25 to 28 are driven from the cylinder 20 by means of intermeshing gears, the movement of said cylinders toward and from the axis of the cylinder 20 is insuflicient to interfere with the proper meshing of such gears. In fact this movement is limited to but a few thousa'ndths of an inch, no substantial pressure being required to effect the proper inking of the. cylinder 20 and in fact being undesirable.

Each of the cylinders 23, 25, 26, 27 and 28 has its arbors mounted in a bearing housing slidable radially of the cylinder 20 in suitable ways in the frame of the machine, said housings being acted upon by suitable springs having a normal tendency to force the cylindercarried thereby, away from the cylinder 20. The housing for the cylinder 23 is indicated at 29 and the springs'acting thereon at 30: the housing for the cylinder 25 is indicated at -31 and the springs acti-ng thereon at 32: the housing for the cylinder 26 is indicated at 33 and the springs acting thereon at 31; the housing for the cylinder 2T is indicated at 35 and the springs acting thereon at 36: and the housing for the cylinder 28 is indicated at 37 and the springs acting thereon at 38, particular reference heilig had to Fig. 5 of the drawings, it bein understood that this mechanism is duplicate upon opposite sides of the machine.

Mounted adjacent the housings 29, 31, 33, 35 and 37 respectively are eccentric shafts 39` 40, 41, 42 and 43 adapt-ed to operatively engage said housings and force them toward the cylinder 20 against the tension of the springs 30, 32, 34, 36 and 38, when said shafts are turned in one direction, and permit said springs to move said housings and their contained cylinders away from said cylinder 20 when the shafts are turned in the other direction.

lClo-operating with each of the eccentric shafts is an actuating mechanism through which power derived from the source of power actuating the machine, may be utilized for causing engagement of the members of the printing couple and of the plates upon the various plate cylinders, with the blankets upon the planographic cylinder '20, this power while derived from the one source being applied to each of said shafts and their actuating mechanisms through entirely independent mechanisms including settin devices, eachof which may be so adjuste as to be entirely inoperative to actuate said mechanisms to disengage the cylinders 23, 25, 26, 27 and 28 from the cylinder 2()l while the machine is running, or to cause an intermittent engagement and disengagement of said cylinders.

Each of said setting devices associated with the platel cylinders is so constructed as to permit it to be so set by a manual control mechanism as to cause it to engage the actuating mechanism associated therewith to rotate the eccentric shaft in a direction to permit movement of its cylinder away from the planographic cylinder, but prevent its engagement with said mechanism in a manner to cause a return movement of said cylinder into engagement with said planographic cylinder. In conjunction with this setting means, I provide means whereby any setting mechanism may be so locked as to maintain its cylinder in inoperative relation to the planographic cylinder.

Since the continuously operating, power of t-he link 46. The short arm of the bell bla crank lever 45 carries a. stud 47 preferably carrying an anti-friction roll adapted to be engaged by the setting device through which power is applied to said bell crank lever.

Mounted adjacent the cylinder 20 and geared to the shaft of this cylinder so as to have its number of R. P. M. correspond with that of said cylinder, isl a housed cam 48 having a substantially 180 rise and a corresponding fall. The cam 48 acts upon one arm of a rocking lever 49 which has pivotally mounted on the other arm thereof, a setting plate 50 havingan elongated opening therein forming a hook 51 adapted to engage the stud 47 while permitting movement of the plate with relation thereto. The plate 50 also carries an arcuate impact plate 52 which preferably is adjustable, so that its end may be projected across the slotted opening in the plate 50 to cause an actuation of the lever 45 with each actuation of the lever 49 or be so positioned as not to obstruct the slotted opening in said plate, and thus cause the actuation of said lever 45 only when said plate 52 is elevated to cause it to be operatively engaged with the stud 47.

When the hook 51 of the plate 50 is in the operative relation to the stud 47, the eccentric shaft 40 will be actuated toforce the housing 31 toward the cylinder 20 and when the impact plate 52 is in the operative relation to said stud. said shaft will be turned in the opposite direction so Vas to permitA the movement of said housing away from said cylinder. When both said hook and said plate are always in the operative relationH to said stud 47, said housing and the cylinder 25 carried thereby will be positioned away from the cylinder 20 during approximately 180 of the movement in arc of said cylinder 20, and will be so positioned during the remaining 180 of such movement as to bring the plate upon said cylinder 25 into engagement with the blanket upon said cylinder, or if a continuous blanket be used, to engag'e not more than 180 of said blanket. When the plate 52 is so set as not to project within the slotted opening in the plate 50, it is apparent that after the printing late upon the cylinder 25 has been once rou ht into the plane of movement of the rxetv upon the cylinder 20, it will remain in this position and the oscillation? of the lever 49 will have no operative effect upon the bell crank lever 45, thus permitting the vplate upon the cylinder 25 to remain 1n its operative inking relation to the cylinder 20.'

Mounted adjacent the plate 50 is a double crank shaft 53, one crank 54 of which has a stud entering an elongated slot in said Vlate so that by the oscillation of said crank s aft, said plate may be raised or lowered so as to engage or disengage the hook 51 with or from the stud 47 and determine the opera- -vent power being applied through said stud 47 for bringing the cylinder 25 into the inking relation with the planographic cylinder 20.

The setting device co-operating with the eccentric shaft 41 operative upon the housing 33 comprises a. crank arm 58 corresponding with the arm 44, a bell crank lever 59 corresponding with the lever 45 and a connecting link 60 corresponding with the link 46. The bell crank lever 59 carries a stud 61 corresponding with. the stud 47. The setting device is controlled by a housed cam 62 corresponding with the cam 48 which acts upon a rocking lever 63 corresponding with the lever 49 and acting upon a setting plate 64 corresponding with the plate 50 and having a. hook65 cprresponding with the hook 51 and an impact plate 66 corresponding with the plate 52. A double crank shaft 67 corresponding with the shaft 53 and having arms 68 and 69 corresponding with the arms 54 and 55, and a sto-p shoulder 70 and co-operating dog 71 carried by said crank shaft corresponding with the stop shoulder 56 and dog 57, are utilized for setting said plate 50. I The setting device co-operating with the eccentric shaft 42 operative upon the housing 35 comprises a crank arm 72 corresponding with the arm 44, a bell crank lever 73 correspondin with the lever 45 and a connecting link 75 corresponding with the link 46. The bell crank lever 73 carries a stud 74 corresponding with the stud 47 The setting device is controlled by a housed cam 7 6 corresponding with the cam 48 which acts upon a rocking lever 77 corresponding with the lever 49 and acting upon a setting plate 78 corresponding with the plate 50 and having a hook 79 corresponding with the hook 51 and an impact plate 80 corresponding'with 

